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x 5 x 2 = x x x x x x x = ( x x ) x x x ( x x ) = x x x = x 3 . Notice that 5 2 = 3 .

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a 8 a 3 = a a a a a a a a a a a = ( a a a ) a a a a a ( a a a ) = a a a a a = a 5 . Notice that 8 3 = 5 .

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Quotient rule for exponents

If x is a real number and n and m are natural numbers,

x n x m = x n m , x 0 .

To divide two exponential quantities having the same nonzero base, subtract the exponent of the denominator from the exponent of the numerator. Keep in mind that the exponential quantities being divided must have the same base for this rule to apply.

Sample set c

Find the following quotients. All exponents are natural numbers.

x 5 x 2 = x 5-2 = x 3 The part in the box is usally done mentally .

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27 a 3 b 6 c 2 3 a 2 b c = 9 a 3 2 b 6 1 c 2 1 = 9 a b 5 c

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15 x 3 x = 5 x

The bases are the same, so we subtract the exponents. Although we don’t know exactly what is, the notation indicates the subtraction.

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Practice set c

Find each quotient

( x + 6 ) 5 ( x + 6 ) 3

( x + 6 ) 2

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26 x 4 y 6 z 2 13 x 2 y 2 z

2 x 2 y 4 z

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When we make the subtraction, n m , in the division x n x m , there are three possibilities for the values of the exponents:

  1. The exponent of the numerator is greater than the exponent of the denominator, that is, n > m . Thus, the exponent, n m , is a natural number.
  2. The exponents are the same, that is, n = m . Thus, the exponent, n m , is zero, a whole number.
  3. The exponent of the denominator is greater than the exponent of the numerator, that is, n < m . Thus, the exponent, n m , is an integer.

Zero as an exponent

In Sample Set C, the exponents of the numerators were greater than the exponents of the denominators. Let’s study the case when the exponents are the same.

When the exponents are the same, say n , the subtraction n n produces 0.

Thus, by the second rule of exponents, x n x n = x n n = x 0 .

But what real number, if any, does x 0 represent? Let’s think for a moment about our experience with division in arithmetic. We know that any nonzero number divided by itself is one.

8 8 = 1 , 43 43 = 1 , 258 258 = 1

Since the letter x represents some nonzero real number, so does x n . Thus, x n x n

represents some nonzero real number divided by itself. Then x n x n = 1 .

But we have also established that if x 0 , x n x n = x 0 . We now have that x n x n = x 0

and x n x n = 1 . This implies that x 0 = 1 , x 0 .

Exponents can now be natural numbers and zero. We have enlarged our collection of numbers that can be used as exponents from the collection of natural numbers to the collection of whole numbers.

Zero as an exponent

If x 0 , x 0 = 1

Any number, other than 0, raised to the power of 0, is 1. 0 0 has no meaning (it does not represent a number).

Sample set d

Find each value. Assume the base is not zero.

2 x 2 x 2 = 2 x 0 = 2 1 = 2

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5 ( x + 4 ) 8 ( x 1 ) 5 5 ( x + 4 ) 3 ( x 1 ) 5 = ( x + 4 ) 8 3 ( x 1 ) 5 5 = ( x + 4 ) 5 ( x 1 ) 0 = ( x + 4 ) 5

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Practice set d

Find each value. Assume the base is not zero.

6 x 4 2 x 3

3 x 4 3 = 3 x

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14 a 7 7 a 2

2 a 7 2 = 2 a 5

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26 x 2 y 5 4 x y 2

13 2 x y 3

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36 a 4 b 3 c 8 8 a b 3 c 6

9 2 a 3 c 2

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51 ( a 4 ) 3 17 ( a 4 )

3 ( a 4 ) 2

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52 a 7 b 3 ( a + b ) 8 26 a 2 b ( a + b ) 8

2 a 5 b 2

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14 x r y p z q 2 x r y h z 5

7 y p h z q 5

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We will study the case where the exponent of the denominator is greater than the exponent of the numerator in Section [link] .

Exercises

Use the product rule and quotient rule of exponents to simplify the following problems. Assume that all bases are nonzero and that all exponents are whole numbers.

12 x y 3 z 2 4 x 2 y 2 z 3 x

144 x 4 y 5 z 3

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( 4 x 2 ) ( 8 x y 3 )

32 x 3 y 3

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( 2 x y ) ( 3 y ) ( 4 x 2 y 5 )

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( 1 4 a 2 b 4 ) ( 1 2 b 4 )

1 8 a 2 b 8

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( 3 8 ) ( 16 21 x 2 y 3 ) ( x 3 y 2 )

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15 x 20 y 24 z 4 5 x 19 y z

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24 x 4 y 4 z 0 w 8 9 x y w 7

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a 4 b 6 ( a 10 b 16 a 5 b 7 )

a 9 b 15

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3 a 2 b 3 ( 14 a 2 b 5 2 b )

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( x + 3 y ) 11 ( 2 x 1 ) 4 ( x + 3 y ) 3 ( 2 x 1 )

( x + 3 y ) 8 ( 2 x 1 ) 3

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40 x 5 z 10 ( z x 4 ) 12 ( x + z ) 2 10 z 7 ( z x 4 ) 5

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x n x n + 3

x 2 n + 3

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a Δ a b b

a Δ + b +

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Exercises for review

( [link] ) What natural numbers can replace x so that the statement 5 < x 3 is true?

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( [link] ) Use the distributive property to expand 4 x ( 2 a + 3 b ) .

8 a x + 12 b x

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( [link] ) Express x x x y y y y ( a + b ) ( a + b ) using exponents.

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( [link] ) Find the value of 4 2 + 3 2 2 3 10 8 .

8

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( [link] ) Find the value of 4 2 + ( 3 + 2 ) 2 1 2 3 5 + 2 4 ( 3 2 2 3 ) 4 2 .

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Questions & Answers

it is the relatively stable flow of income
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bcoz of existence of frictional unemployment in our economy.
Umashankar
what is flexible exchang rate?
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due to existence of the pple with disabilities
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the demand of a good rises, causing the demand for another good to fall
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is it possible to leave every good at the same level
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is not really possible to let the value of a goods to be same at the same time.....
Salome
Suppose the inflation rate is 6%, does it mean that all the goods you purchase will cost 6% more than previous year? Provide with reasoning.
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Not necessarily. To measure the inflation rate economists normally use an averaged price index of a basket of certain goods. So if you purchase goods included in the basket, you will notice that you pay 6% more, otherwise not necessarily.
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Economic growth Stable prices and low unemployment
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increase in general price levels
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Good day How do I calculate this question: C= 100+5yd G= 2000 T= 2000 I(planned)=200. Suppose the actual output is 3000. What is the level of planned expenditures at this level of output?
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Criteria for determining money supply
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Aggregate demand
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C=k100 +9y and i=k50.calculate the equilibrium level of output
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Source:  OpenStax, Elementary algebra. OpenStax CNX. May 08, 2009 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col10614/1.3
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